Ethene when passed into concentrated H2SO4 is rapidly absorbed. The product is diluted with water and then warmed to produce?

Ethene when passed into concentrated H2SO4 is rapidly absorbed. The product is diluted with water and then warmed to produce?

Answer Details

When ethene (C2H4) is passed into concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), the ethene molecule gets protonated by H+ ions from the acid. This leads to the formation of a carbocation intermediate. Next, water is added to the carbocation to form an alcohol. In this case, since the product is being warmed, the most likely product formed is ethanol (C2H5OH). The reaction can be represented by the following equation: C2H4 + H2SO4 → C2H5OH Therefore, the correct option is "ethanol."